It took him 110 races, but last time out at the Miami Grand Prix, Lando Norris finally became a Formula 1 race winner.
The British superstar is confident that this is just the beginning, with more victories targeted in 2024 with an eye on challenging the likes of Max Verstappen for the championship title in 2025.
After perhaps the worst decade in their history, the 24-year-old’s McLaren team are back racing at the front of the grid again, though Red Bull and Ferrari still have the edge on pace for now.
It is vindication for Norris, as well as teammate Oscar Piastri, who chose to have faith in the papaya project even when many on the outside were hopeful they would seek a move elsewhere.
Rubens Barrichello had to wait 124 races before he tasted victory at the German Grand Prix in 2000, so knows all about the power of patience and persistence in F1.
‘I was there in Hockenheim last weekend. My son was racing,’ the Brazil racing icon told the Metro in an exclusive chat.
‘I cry a lot and when I got back to that place, I promise you, I cried!
‘A win in Formula One is not just an individual thing. You have to be on par with your engineer, with your mechanics, with the tyres, with so many things.
‘I had the chance to win before [Germany 2000]. I almost won my third race in my whole career. It was Donington Park [the 1993 European Grand Prix] and I was running second when I ran out of fuel.
‘I should have won that Nurburgring race with Stewart [the 1999 European Grand Prix]. I chose to stay on slicks when it rained – the same thing I did in Hockenheim – and it didn’t work. So that race should have been a win as well.
‘So things need to gel and life is all about you being resilient. You have to have faith, you have to work for it. If it comes easy, it goes easy. And I think that motivational side needs to be with you.
‘Honestly, numbers are numbers and that’s okay. You have to work with them. But life is about being honest and keep on working because things will come around.’
Barrichello would go onto record 11 wins and 68 podiums in his long career, and alongside Michael Schumacher won five straight constructors’ titles with Ferrari, before triumphing again in 2009 with Brawn alongside Jenson Button.
Longest waits for first F1 win:
Sergio Perez – 190 races
Carlos Sainz – 150 races
Mark Webber – 130 races
Rubens Barrichello – 124 races
Jarno Trulli – 117 races
Jenson Button – 113 races
Nico Rosberg – 111 races
Lando Norris – 110 races
Giancarlo Fisichella – 110 races
While he was hesitant to predict if Norris and McLaren could go all the way, he says the future is very, very bright for them, adding: ‘When you think that McLaren started last year as the worst car ever, they were running last…
‘All of a sudden they made some progress and they went forward and then all of a sudden they were fighting for podiums and wins.
‘So when a team is on that structure, they can do anything. They are on the right path for sure. And they have two really, really good drivers.’
Barrichello was speaking to the Metro after joining iGaming technology company SOFTSWISS as Non-Executive Director in Latin America.
‘The iGaming field has shown remarkable growth both in Brazil and globally. Joining SOFTSWISS, I am delighted to become one of the drivers of this process in Latin America!
‘I am sure my background with the leading racing team will propel the iGaming tech leader towards success in the region.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE : Lando Norris targets Emilia Romagna Grand Prix victory as Adrian Newey plans an F1 return
MORE : Max Verstappen names the one ‘good’ thing about Donald Trump’s Miami Grand Prix appearance
